Barry Sadler Casca 06 The Persian

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Shapur came to him and embraced him before the mounted troops. Casca felt
again a twinge of un-easiness. He liked, but also feared Shapur. The man was
strong and wore the mantle of power about him easily. But Casca hadn t
expected this aspect of the King, that he was also a religious fa-natic. That
could prove dangerous. For when any-one was too involved with gods, it spelled
trouble for everyone else around him. No matter how smart the King might be,
the gods would always have the last laugh.
Shapur escorted Casca back to his mount. I am pleased that you have not been
reluctant to give your oath, for I have need of you now and in the next week
Page 26
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
you will be given your first assignment. I will send for you. Go now.
Dismissed, Casca was relieved that the ceremony was all there was to the day s
proceedings, and as he rode off wondered what plans the king now had for him.
The Vizier smiled and bowed to him in a most friendly manner. For some reason
this disturbed Casca.
Casca spent the next days keeping pretty much tohimself , avoiding the desire
to visit some of the gambling andwenching houses of which the city of
Nev-Shapur had an abundance. He still felt uneasy
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
and decided that it would be better to keep away from anything that might
possibly give an enemy anything to use against him.
FOUR
Another two weeks passed with Casca remaining in his self-enforced
confinement. True, he had sent out from time to time for one or another of the
famous Persian courtesans to visit him in his room sloe-eyed, dusky,
warm-blooded women who d learned the art of pleasing men when they were still
children. After all, he still had normal needs and they d served to keep the
edge off his temper.
He received notice of his departure in the form of a letter delivered by one
of Shapur s guards, a member of the Immortals. Casca was not of this elite
unit. Only those with pure Persian bloodlines, from noble families, were
permitted to serve in their ranks. Even the messenger, who held the low-est
rank in the Guards, was of an ancient and noble house that traced its lineage
back over three hun-dred years. At
Shapur s command any of these people would, without hesitation, drive their
dag-gers into their hearts or into one of their own blood.
The Immortals were chosen as children and taken from their families when no
older than ten. From that time on they were trained for one thingonly, this
being absolute obedience to the King of Kings.
The letter informed Casca to prepare himself to leave in two days and that
before his departure he was to come to Shapur for a final pre-mission
brief-ing in which the operation would be explained.
As ordered, Casca presented himself to the majordomo and was ushered without
ceremony into
Shapur s private quarters. Bowing low, Casca waited for permission to stand
erect. Permission was soon given with an offhanded wave of Shapur s strong
fingers.
Well, Casca, are you ready for your first assign-ment? There could be but
one response to the question, yet it was still with a sense of uneasiness that
Casca answered.
Of course, Lord. I await your command. He slapped his sword hand to his
breast in salute. Shapur nodded, playing at his beard with his fin-gers as was
the habit of the Persian when deep in thought. A thin smile played at the
corner of Shapur s eyes.
When last we talked you told of a ruse used by a Chinese general a century or
two ago while en-gaged in battle with the Hephalites. The memories of those
savages are not long and I would see if the same plan could be used again.
Casca swallowed. You mean the three thou-sand who..?
Exactly! Shapur smiled openly, showing strong white teeth. When you return
to your resi-dence an escort will be waiting for you. He shall take you to
join your army, which I dispatched a month ago to the frontiers ofSogdiana to
serve asbait. From intelligence reports we know that the Hephalites are on the
move to join us in battle. They know that if they can eliminate my army there
it will free the entire countryside for their looting and pillaging for some
weeks time.But if you succeed and destroy them that will secure my frontiers
in the north and east for at least a couple of years. I could then turn my
attention to other pressing matters without being bothered excessive-ly by
Page 27
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
large raiding parties.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Shapur paused for a moment, his eyes reflecting honesty.
Serve me well in this matter, Casca, and you shall find that I know how to
reward as well as to punish.
Shapur motioned with his hand down, shoving the fingers forward toward the
exit. You may leave!
Casca bowed his way out of the royal chambers and returned to his dwelling to
find that his gear had already been packed by the escort, his servants
dismissed, and the house closed. All that he would require on his journey was
methodically placed in packs on the back of the horses.
Casca grumbled to himself. Shapur doesn t let any grass grow under the feet
of anyone who works for him, that s for damned sure.
His escort was composed of ten men from a light cavalry detachment, expert
archers all of them. During the journey they rode like the demons ofShaitan
were on their tails, stopping only once each night for an hour s rest,
changing mounts in relays six or seven times a day. By utilizing these means
they d covered over one hundred miles per day andon the evening of the third
day had arrived at the valley ofBazhari , where his Persian host awaited
Casca s arrival. They had not arrived too soon as far as he was concerned.
Passing sentries and checkpoints of security, they were admitted into the main
camp, where Casca was guided to a large pavilion that was to serve as his
headquarters. Word of his arrival had already reached his regimental
commanders and they stood in two ranks, one to either side of the tent, at
rigid attention.
Casca entered, stomping the dust from his boots and pounding his chest to rid
it of the day s dirt. Sand clouds flew from him at every thump of his fist. He
eyed the commanders. All had the look of tough men.
Only two were under thirty years of age and even they had visible scars to
show they were not novices to battle. But Casca could see in their eyes the
retention of doubt about this foreigner who d come to command them. That they
would obey him, he had no doubt; Shapur s discipline was much too rigidly
enforced for them to consider doing otherwise. Yes, they would obey. But they
wouldn t like it worth a damn.
A field desk and chair were in position at the rear of the tent. Casca marched
straight to them and seated himself after acknowledging the reluc-tant bowing
of his subordinate commanders. Pour-ing a drink of water from a carafe, he
washed the dust of the trail from his throat before speaking.
Which one of you is the superior officer?
A Persian with a slight Greek cast to his features stepped forward and bowed,
his scaled armor rip-pling in the light of the oil lamps. His helmet wastucked
under one arm, his hand to the hilt of a long straight sword. The gray in his
hair and his hard dark eyes were enough to gain him notice in a grouping of
soldiers.
I am Indemeer, Commander of the
Cataphracti.
Casca was familiar with this unit Heavy Cavalry, whose horses as well as their
riders were covered with heavy armor. The charge of the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Wątki